TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Flying from YVR to STT vs EIS

Hi everyone. I'm clutching on to the hope that this November we might make it to the BVI for the first time, but only just. This trip has started to feel like trying to force a square peg through a round hole.

We had flights booked into STT but United has cancelled some of the legs. I have the option of rebooking or getting a refund. As such I'm back to looking at flights. At this point all of the flights from Vancouver (YVR) are quite brutal, with 2-3 stops just to get to STT. I've started considering flying "directly" to EIS on Beef Island. Does this have any advantages or disadvantages concerning the entry or exit requirements? Is my intuition to maybe avoid the ferry sound? The flights to EIS are a bit more expensive, but this would allow us to forgo the ferry and an Airbnb night. In the end the cost might be about the same. We definitely won't have any checked luggage, if that makes a difference.

Thanks all!

With such a long trip with connections, you might want to simplify it a bit and shorten the traveling by chartering out of St. Thomas and sailing into the BVI. I've had a great experience with CYOA. You'll spend less time traveling to and from the boat and more time actually enjoying your vacation.

We almost always fly through San Juan. I see that American has cheap flights from Vancouver to San Juan with one stop in Dallas, arriving at 11pm. Stay in the airport hotel and catch a morning flight to Beef Island.

How many people in your group?

Especially for West coast trips (I used to commute to Seattle weekly), I highly recommend flying to EIS. The ferry gets you into an island mode a little faster but after traveling so long I really just want to get there. Flying thru SJU to EIS is now my preferred route. I prefer to staying in the more efficient airport system instead of transferring to the ferries, there are multiple carrier options in case something goes wrong, no dealing with the crappy airport in STT, much better/reliable TSA Pre-check and Global Entry options, multiple food/drink options for the layover, etc... By the time I factor in taxis, tips, ferry cost, and baggage fees I find EIS to be the same cost.

From Seattle, I would break the trip into 2 days because I needed to work on Thursdays at least part of the day. Thursday was Seattle to Atlanta; stay overnight at one of the airport hotels connected to the Sky Train. Friday morning, first flight to SJU, then a connection to EIS. Was usually on the beach for lunch.

Ahoy Captain,

You may want to consider a Red Eye through Toronto, a morning flight to SXM, and then hack an afternoon flight on Winair to the BVI (EIS)
You may want to consider a short overnight at FLL.
FLL has many hotels close to the airport under $100 Night with a free airport shuttle.
FLL has discount Airlines that now fly to SJU and STT.
FLL has several early flights to SJU with connecting midday flights to EIS.

Fair Winds, Brent from The Captains Compass

Most of our relatives are on the west coast and they have flown the YVR to SJU route then on to EIS - it's a bit pricier than STT but it gets you there faster and with less stress.

Thanks for the replies!

Changing where we charter is not an option at this point. Our charter and dates are fixed, which limits our flight options considerably.

It's just my girlfriend and I flying. Our charter group is four total, but our arrivals and departures are staggered.

Jason, thank you for your detailed insight. If we fly to EIS will we only have to clear customs once? My understanding is that flying to STT we would have to clear customs there, and again in the BVI. I'm not too worried about the entry as we have plenty of time. Our first night is a sleep aboard on the boat. I am worried about the exit with the testing requirements. I'd like to simplify that as much as possible.

Right now the itinerary I'm liking the most looks like this:

Outbound:
17:48 Vancouver > 18:50 Seattle
2h 55m wait
19:45 Seattle > 06:00 1Newark (next day)
2h 20m wait
08:20 Newark > 13:23 San Juan
2h 52m wait
16:15 San Juan > 17:00 Beef Island

Return:
12:00 Beef Island > 12:45 San Juan
3h 15m wait
16:00 San Juan > 19:50 Toronto
2h 30m wait
22:20 Toronto > 00:38 Vancouver

Scratch that. I made the mistake of leaving the number of travers set to one. It appears that itinerary is not available for two.

When looking at flights for 2 it appears there is a much better option into STT… How much more horrible is it, really, to come in through STT and have to deal with the ferries. We will only have one small backpack each. Are there any gotchas I might not be aware of?

It's not horrible at all. I just prefer SJU but even I will take STT for a better itinerary/price. I'm assuming you'll clear into the US in Seattle or somewhere before STT. If so, there's no immigration requirement there. On the ferry route, you'll just clear when the ferry docks in Tortola.

I prefer SJU as well...if you leave from STT to go back and it is on a weekend make sure you get there in plenty of time and use your global entry if you have it and get and tip a porter to guide you through it

Roger. Thank you guys.

You actually don't need the porter if you have global entry...they use the same line now.

Coming in from Canada (Ottawa) and will be flying to San Juan and then direct to EIS. I have done the flight to STT and then taxi ferry, customs, etc 2 times once with the whole family and I can say - never again if I can avoid it. Just feels like a non-funny version of Planes, Trains and Automobiles. Also with the ferry service and flights and requirements to be at the STT airport so early - staying over on St Thomas, the night before seems to be a must - which means one less day in BVIs.

This time flying into EIS - walkover to Trellis and take the ferry to Scrub island and get onboard our DYC yacht. Plus, on the way back staying over one night at Scrub and using there facilities for the day (yes I know $$$$$!) and then flying out at noon the next morning is a no brainer!

We booked a charter in the BVI for June 2020. Finally getting there in January 2022.
We are flying into EIS. Early on (in this covid mess) , this was the only way to get into the BVI.

When possible we prefer the "hybrid" approach.
Charter out of STT and sail over to BVI. Lots of benefits to this itinerary.
With the $$ we save on the ferries/taxis and/or direct flights into EIS, we add a couple of days onto the charter.
Add a day on the front and back to do St John anchorages and 7 days in BVI.

Guess someday, when the borders open back up for sailing back and forth, we will revisit this option.

We love staying at Scrub Island. Have done it on charter in the marina and land based for a few days.

Nice - Never been myself and can't wait I am sure the better-halves will enjoy the facilities on day 1 and the night in luxury after 7 days on the yacht. (not that 7 nights on a brand new Elba 45 is slumming it!)